Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-11-04
THE UNMASKED SHARPER.
The Stake Played for by Father
and Son
BY EpouARp sIEBEcKER.

They were discuss the latest
lcandal. A young man of good con-
,ections had been ignomin ously ex.
oelled from n club. Play ng in colIus-
on with "A professional gambler. he had
cheated al cards. and in few months
lad won considerable sum.
"And has he killed himself?" asked
tmeone.
BAH" replied another. Do men
Kill themselves for so tile nowadays?
Il was different in the good old times. ~
''ln the good Old times rs you call
hem. said old General Roy. ''those
who adopted the card sharper pro-
ossion killed themselves no more than
hose OF the present time. a few ex-
'eptons there may have been among
hose vino were detected AT the outset.
3It II the first attempt succeeded, they
lid as they do to-day, they qu ckly
accustomed themselves to their degra-
lat on. ALI. it is so easy. When
aspect for his own good name will not
'estrain man AT the first attempt, it is
Entirely dead within him, and even
scandal will not revive it, b. the way,
can tell YOU OF curious case i'm point,
where hero blew out HIS brains, but
was not 81 eide. No, strange as it
nay sound, it was not a suicide. Listen:
+ ut was some 80 years ago. The
!. aross &C tbot ti,,o ,.-as ~, a.. ,a,,..Il =.
yosslp that 1t is to-day, and sensational
lews never passed certain bounds.
There were not fewer scandals, but the
sandals were less known. In fact,
hink there were rather more. Not
bat We are more virtuous. but the fear
publicity is certainly great check.
Among the elegant Young fellows,
ne gilded youth OF those DAYS, who
hfhshed the greater part of the scan
4 talous gossip by their ecccntricities
md duels, was young gentleman at
ached to the kings household. |
hall call him the Vcomte Roland. The
name was not an illustrious one; in
act the Nicomte was the fruit of one of
hose mixed marriages introduced by
& Napoleon |. General Comte Roland,
i whose heavy cavalry charges are
matters of history had married the
iaugter of the Marquis de Barnsac. a
member of one of the wealthiest and
most powerful families of France. His
ION was then about 20 years of age.
de had not the robust plebeian beauty
If his father, who had been one of the
landsomest men in the army. He was
'ather the delicate and d distinguished
grace of his mother. whose idol
,e was. Having loved her husband
sass4uately, the countess was now
wrapped up in her son.
THE extravagant life led by the son
lad caused a quarrel between the par
.nts. The countess lived in the
\ sransac Hotel, one Of the finest in the
\ Fauburg Saint-Germain. whilo the
i general, secluding himself in little
u chateau in the forest of Senart, passed
Il Ais time in the pleasures of the chase.
II They say he had mistreated his wife,
L Jut il was utterly untrue. The fact j.
Il hat there had been between the gener.
\ n and his wife two terrible scenes.
"The first was caused bS an idea
\ which took possession of the countess.
She found this name Roland toe
9lebeian for her son, and tormented
ler husband to obtain the kings au-
shorty to add TO it that of DeBransac,
The general energeticaIly refused.
"'My name has suiliced for me. saC
,e-for me who has made it famous
It will do for this fine gentleman. my
on. If he does not find { brilliant
enough let I'm try 10 add To it, lustre.
The second scene was brought abou
oy the vicomte abduct NJ ballet dan
GER and by duel and debt which were
he consequences of this little affair
The general brought the son before his
mother and roughly reproyed him fol
ais folly. Instead of supporting hei
husband the countess made excuses fol
aer son. Women always are indulgen
towards the man in love scrape.
"As the general told his son that his
fortune was not sufficient TO maintain
,uch scandalous absurdties, the count
sss unhappily interjected
".Oh, the fortune of the De Bran
;acs will amply suffice for him
..She had not calculated the effect Of
.er speech. An hour later the genera
eft the hotel and went to his chateau
4 the end of a week the family notary
Informed the countess that her entire
PERSONAL property was at her disposal
The separation was complete, and the
General lived alone on the ID. 900 francs
hich constituted the revenue he re
eiyed from his own fortune.
"The son made ducks and brakes o
Ar fortune At the end Of six months
Ia countess was half ruined. and th'
nergv of the notary alone saved he
kp's extravagances.
ball ut once it became known tina